Jason Link

Hello Reader! In my last newsletter, I hinted at my latest project. And here it is... I’ve designed a new board game called Oceanic. It’s a marine-life game that sits somewhere in the space of Wingspan meets Terraforming Mars meets Parks. You play cards representing different animal species and place them into ocean habitats—like the coral reef, the kelp forest, and the abyss—and try to score as many points as possible as you move around the great ocean gyre. Some of what you'll find in the...

Happy New Year Reader! I hope you’re stepping into the new year with hope, rest, and a little excitement for what’s ahead. As for me, I’m still plugging away at my latest novel, Chorus in the Storm. I’ve crossed the 35,000-word mark—a milestone that feels both satisfying and humbling. If you’d asked me a year ago, I would’ve hoped to be finished by now. But between teaching and a handful of awesome (if slightly intrusive) side projects—yes, including making board games—the writing has come...

Hello Reader, Long before the Grinch tried to steal Christmas, there were other forces that tried to stop the holiday from coming. Some of them succeeded. In 1647, Christmas was officially cancelled. It had become so associated with carousing, debauchery, and gambling that the Puritans shut it down altogether. Throughout history, politics and religion have both taken shots at Christmas, but perhaps one of its most insidious enemies was the Industrial Revolution. Cities modernized at breakneck...

Hello Reader! The north is deep into fall now, and winter’s not far behind—two seasons I miss dearly. The crisp air, the changing leaves, the return of sweater weather… the perfect time to visit a pumpkin patch and/or apple orchard and get doughnuts (if you’re not familiar with the tradition, you’re seriously missing out). Blizzards aren’t bad either–sitting in front of the fireplace’s glow with a cup of hot chocolate while it’s freezing death outside. It’s the best! Alas, we have none of...

Hello Reader! The school year has officially started, and with it, my return to the English classroom. It reminded me of this hilarious video by Frank James called “If Lit Terms Were People.” See how many terms you can spot and recognize! Of course, beginning anything new—whether a school year, a job, or even a writing project—comes with its share of excitement and worry. This year, though, the gap between the two felt dialed up to 11. On the very first day back, I found myself in a moment of...